Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1887-01-15
Considering the expenditures thus mad.

Considering the expenditures thus mad.
| in providing public institutions for a new
| and gro wing commonwealth, the burdens of
| taxation imposed by the state have never
been excessive. Its government has, as q
rule, been economically administered. The
salaries of it's officers have been moderate.
| Its indebtedness is very small. The per-
oentsge of taxation annually levied for state
purposes, rarely large, has been steadily de-
creasing during the past fourteen years
until, for the present fiscal year, it is less
than one half that levied in 1872.
MUNICIPAL DEBTS AND TAXATION.
But not withstanding this steady reduction
in the percentage of state taxation, the tax
burdens in nearly every county are irksome.
The rapid and enormous increase of proper.
ty valuations has brought no corresponding
decrease in the percentage of tax levied by
the municipal authorities. In many coun-
ties and cities, indeed the tax rates have
steadily increased. Worse than all, too, the
aggregate of municipal Indebtedness is
rapidly and enormously swelling, until it
has reached proportions that should alarm
every citizen who has atheart the prosperity
of the state and the well-being of its peo-
pie.
called the attention of the legislature to
this subject, in myIbennial message of 1886,
and again in my special message of 1886,
and earnestly urged that stringent imita-
tons be placed on debt-creaing and tax
levying authority Of counties, townships and
cities. No action was taken, however, and
the municipal subdivision of the state have
bearing debts that will, in q few years, Grip
pie and dishearten every energy and ambi-
ton of their people, and paralyze all public
spirit.
Two years ago the municipal indebtedness
of the state aggregated SIS, 951, 929. OF this
amount the county indebtedness aggregated
$685., 1892; township, $3.50, oeo 50; city,
So On the LIST Of January. 1887 this dread
full burden Of local indebtedness had in
creased to $19, 1891, 851, the bonds having
been voted and issued for purposes and by
municipal subdivisions, as follows:
County bonds issued in aid of railroads 556 400
Township bonds issued in aid of
City bonds issued in and of railroads.. i.ssssss
Total of bonds issued in aid of rail-
roads. .s12,oss ,o1s
County bonds issued for all other pur-
Township bonds issued for ali other
City bonds issued for ali other pur- -.
School District bonds. ................ as5s,Gio
Total bonds issued for all other
purposes. x,Sl4sSSS
Grand total of municipal bonds issued S19 ss7 ISL
But this is not the end. Since the first of
January, 1864 period of two years-mu-
nicipal bonds aggregating in amount s11,-
%, 600 have been voted, but are not yet is
sued. These bonds were voted for purposes
and BY municipal subdivisions, as follows:
County bonds voted in aid of railroads,
since Jan. I, 1885. S55SS, 600
Township bonds voted in aid of rail-
roacs. since came date A77s6Oo
since same date ....................... $4,000
Total railroad bonds. S11. 1l6 600
County bonds voted for other than rail-
road purposes, since January I, 1885,. $4,000
Township bonds vsted for other than
railroad purpoees, sfAoe Jan. /, 1885. 1880
City bonds voted for Othsr than rail- i
road purposes. since january ]. 1885. 81 500
Total FOR othe than sailroad par-